I am climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with Team Fox!

https://give.michaeljfox.org/kmargolius

A few months after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD), I walked into a fundraiser for PD research and was greeted by a stranger with a big hug and the words, “welcome to the family.” That moment changed my life.

Through Team Fox, I met an extraordinary community of peers with Young Onset PD who were not just navigating this disease together, but thriving. Their stories helped me see how community carries us when we feel alone, how uncertainty can open the door to spontaneity rather than fear, and how essential it is to live fully.

I’m especially grateful for the incredible individuals in my New Orleans community who shared their kindness, their insight, their stories, and their courage with me. Because of them I have come to realize that my voice, too, could inspire others. So even if I can be a bit shy, it’s time to write my story, and to pay it forward, and share it.

This August, I’m joining Team Fox to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in support of Parkinson’s research.Exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have for living well with this disease, and this climb is my way of pushing my limits and showing what’s possible in the face of a movement disorder.

More than 6 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s — the second most common neurological disorder. In the United States alone, 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. There is still no cure for PD. But there is extraordinary progress — and real hope — because of research.

That’s why I’m asking you to join me.

Team Fox is the grassroots community fundraising program at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). MJFF accelerates critical scientific research through smart risk-taking with a commitment to urgency. 100 percent of Team Fox proceeds go straight to MJFF’s high-impact programs.

If my story moves you — if you believe in living fully, challenging limits, and supporting critical research — I invite you to make a gift of any amount. Your support fuels the science that changes lives, including mine. There is a fundraising goal I’m working towards, but honestly, having a big circle of friends—old and new—alongside me on this journey is just as important to me. I’m planning to print everyone’s name on a Team Fox flag and carry it with me to the summit.

If you have questions for me, send me a message! I’ll post updates, including a Q&A as I hear from all of my friends and supporters.

Thank you for standing with me as I climb.

Kevin